The Portland daily press., 1887-10-29
THE cHRYsANTHEMUM.
The Popular and Fashionable Fall
Flower.

Whereas the rose, the earnaton, the fra
grant English violet still occupy the same
high place In the estimation Of the flower
loving world, and are quite indispensable to
the florist, the ehrysanthemum Is the fash
ionable fall flower and, considering its good
qualities, II may well be. Being so full Of
beauty, Of such varied eolors and Of almost
numberess varieties, and coming In all its
strength and freshness at a season when
vegetation is scarce, II is no wonder that dur
ing Its transient flower producing period. it
should be the popular flower
Horticulturists and florists both at home
and abroad have Of late years given much
attention TO the cultivation and improvement
Of this beautiful plant. Japan and China
have been the great gardens for this flower
In the past and they still export many varie-
ties, but no country now produces so many
varieties or perhaps more properly speaking.
forms and color Of flowers, as the United
States. In this country from the three gceat
classes Of this plant, the Pompon, Japanese
and Chinese, 5000 new seedlings OF distinct
color and form have been grown worthy Of
the name within the last year, and next year
the names Of these new seedlings will be cat
alogued. John Thorp. ex-president Of the
American Society Of Florists, has probably
done more In the way Of growing new vari-
eties Of ehrysanthemums and improving and
keeping np the standard Of the plant than
any other man in the world. New varieties
are constantly appearing upon the market
and much Is now being said concerning a
new spotted Japanese variety.
The custom Of holding grand chrysanthe-
mum shows now prevails in nearly all the
large cities in this country, as well as in
many Of the countries Of Europe. At these
exhibitions hundreds Of varieties are shown,
Of all colors, many Of them very beautiful
and unique. Although an old plant, the
ehrysanthemum has never before been so
thoroughly and carefully cultivated .as ID Is
at the present time by our American florists
All chrysanthemums. having chat are
known as quilted flowers, be- ,dg to the
Japanese class. Large o. = les OF these
plants were formerly impO-utiE from Japan,
but the number Is now much smaller. Some
have been received this present season from
that country. The plants which are now In
blossom were started from cuttings In the
early summer OF spring and after they are
done blossomlng they may be cut down to
spring up again and blossom at future day.
The second blossoms, however, are inferior
| In size and beauty as compared with the first.
and it Is better to start new plants from cut
tings or By dividing the root Of the old plant
| and thus obtain new and vigorous growing
bushes. than it is to attempt To force the old
plant to blossom a second time. For white
chrySanthemum, few are more beautiful
than the anemone-tiOwered Trinbale L. Ar
gent. The inner petals Of this variety are
lemon colored The Alba M0nstrOsa is a
pure white variety, Of extra large size. The
John Welch, for a dark crimson maroon;
the Mrs. Brett, for yellow Md. d'Anginir
for rosy pink; the Refulgens, for rich
purple smaroon; the Mong0lfer, for ma
room; and the Bob for dark brown Grim
son; are among the many well known varie-
ties that are good for collection.
Plants started and grown in the green
Louise Will do better than those which are
started In the open earth out OF doors, and
afterwards repotted and placed IN the green
house. In growing plants for the house, II
| Is well TO pot the young plants during the
summer, in i've or six inch pots sunk In the
earth out Of doors, and IN the fall, during
their blossomIng season, they may be taken
/ in, kept until through blossOming, and then
/ slips taken for new plants TO blossom the
next fall. The ehrysanthemum Is gross
/ feeder, and Is best grown In a rich, light soil,
we'll watered. Like many other plants, IL Is
not without Its enemies. IL Is subject TO
mildew, and the brown fly. an insect peculiar
to the chrysanthemum, Is one OF Its most pO-
tent destroyers. Fortunately, however. sui
|
Is death to the brown fly, so that the careful
/ florist need apprehcnd little danger from
| either of these pestilentIal sources.
Although it Is said that the plant Is easily
i grown, 1t requires about as much experience
to grow II TO perfection, as Is required by a
/ rose. Blossoms, six inches In diameter, have
/ been grown by allowing but one bud ON
| bush to blossom. The tipping or 'pinch-
| ing back" as it Is called, TO make the plant
| grow bushy. should not be done later than
the last Of July; II continued beyond this
time, 1t Is apt to be injurious to the Towering
of the plant. Chrysanthemums are hardy in
the latitude Of New York, and by giving
them light coyeringl of dry leaves or litter
they may be made to stand the winter even
| here.
Already this very fashionable and popular
fall flower has made its appearance in the
| florists show windows Of our city to the
number Of between 40 aud 60 of the best
hrightansd nv tha racetinD ~ their ,se
come fall visitor.